Frame straightening device



Dec. 20, 1966 N. J.BALDASSANO FRAME STRAIGHTENING DEVICE Filed Oct. 28, 1963 I: :3 M INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,292,410 FRAME STRAIGHTENING DEVICE Nicholas J. Baldassano, 33 S. Maple Ave., Fox Lake, Ill. 60020 Filed Oct. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 319,320 12 Claims. (Cl. 72-297) This invention relates to a device for straightening frames, axles, unitized body structures and the like of automotive vehicles.

In recent years, manufacturers of automotive vehicles have been more and more putting to use unitized body structures in lieu of the more conventional heavy underframe structures, especially in passenger car manufacture. The unitized body includes a large number of smaller frame members and, thus, still includes a frame structure. However, the frame structure of the unitized body is not disposed at a generally singular lower level. Thus, different problems are encountered in straightening such a unitized body than are encountered with the more conventional, heavier frame members.

Frame straightening devices presently in use often include pivotally mounted arms which are generally normally upstanding and are urged about pivot by a jack grounded or anchored on a frame member to which the arm is pivotally mounted, pivoting the arm during the frame straightening procedure with the arm in engagement with a portion of the frame to be straightened. The arm is applied to or engaged with the vehicle frame at a position on the upper portion of the pivotal arm. The jack biases between the frame member and a position on an arm removed from the pivot. The arm functions as a lever, pivoted by the jack, for applying a force at the outer end thereof to the vehicle frame. This results in application of a lesser amount of force directly on the vehicle frame by a given size jack than would be possible with a straight-on-push by the same jack.

In addition, frame straightening devices often in use do not permit the straightening force to be exerted over a sufiicient length to conduct a severe straightening operation without releasing tension between the points on the frame on which the straightening device bears. For example, where a deep indenting bend has been made in a frame member, and the frame straightener is to be used for pushing the bend outward, the straightener is biased between the bend and another portion of the frame and the jack is actuated. However, after the jack has pushed the extent of its stroke, the straightener must be released from the bend and readjusted or repositioned for reengaging the bend and pushing the bend another distance not greater than the jack stroke extent. Each time the bend is released from tension, it may tend to resume, to a degree, its indented position so that a portion of the straightening movement by each jack stroke may be lost.

Further, although stationary frame straightener structures have been provided with readily movable carriages thereon, e.g. as may move over tracks of the straightener structure, the so-called portable frame straighteners are often not provided with carriages sufficient to permit the ready movement from one position to another, especially in a lateral direction and where the straightener includes beam structures of some weight which may render the device fairly cumbersome.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and useful frame structure straightening device as characterized herein.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a frame straightening device wherein the head-on force of a driver means, e.g. a jack, may be used to urge a portion of a frame in the direction of the jack disposition relative to another portion of the frame.

Another object is to provide an adjustable span across 3,292,410 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 which the driving force may be applied by employing an adjustable grounding member for the driving force.

Still another object is to provide a straightening device in which two members are moved relative to each other during frame straightening procedures without dissipation of a material portion of the straightening force as a force tending to lift the frame, and to provide for holding of the members at a span under tension while removing the drive means from therebetween, adjusting the driving means and replacing the driving means to continue driving the frame toward a straightened position without releasing tension thereon.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved straightening device in accordance with the foregoing Objects having the capability of applying side forces laterally of the main device structure while engaging a frame to be straightened at a plurality of locations.

And another object is to provide a frame straightening device in accordance with the foregoing objects which is readily portable, especially in a lateral direction.

Other objects will be apparent to those in the art from the following description and the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a form of device in accordance wherewith;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view and section through the device of FIGURE 1 along line 33;

FIGURE 4 is a view and section through the device of FIGURE 1 along line 44;

FIGURE 5 is a view of an adjustable pusher plate used in the device illustrated in FIGURES 1-4; and,

FIGURE 6 illustrated in perspective an auxiliary member which can be used on a frame straightening device such as the device shown in FIGURES l and 2.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail a specific embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is considered to be an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

Now turning to the drawings, the form of device illustrated is useful in the straightening of frame structures of unitized body vehicles as well as the heavier vehicular frame structures. Wherever frames are referred to herein as engaged or straightened by the device, the frame may be that of either the unitized body or heavy support frame and may include axles and other structures of the vehicle. With more particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the illustrated device includes a main channel beam 11 having L-shaped channel members 12 and 13 received telescopically in the ends thereof by arms 12a and 13a which extend horizontally within beam 11. As can be seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, beam 11 is of square or rectangular shape when viewed from either end and is constructed of a pair of opposing channels having the edges of their legs welded to each other. Members 12 and 13 are similarly of square cross-section and are similarly composed of opposing channels providing a structure of smaller dimension than the interior dimension of beam 11 so that members 12 and 13 are freely telescopically slidable therein. Members 12 and/or 13 may be held from telescopic sliding with respect to beam 11 by pins shown at 17 extending through aligned bores 18 in the side walls of beam 11 and members 12 and/or 13. Each bore in one side wall of beam 11 or members 12 or 13 is in alignment with a bore through the opposing side wall and such aligned opposing bores will be referred to herein as a pair of bores. Each of members 12 and 13 is provided with a linear plurality of such pairs of bores '18 for securing such members in a plurality of telescopically extended positions, as is beam 11.

Adjacent each end of main beam 11 and secured to the top surface thereof, is a stationary jack anchor 19 having surface 20 disposed toward the end of beam 11 for abutting and grounding a jack J. The jack I used in the illustrated device is of the hydraulic type, supplied with hydraulic pressure fluid from a hydraulic actuator mechanism such as shown at HA, on one of the jacks J in- FIGURE 1, the fluid being forced through a pressure conduit from mechanism HA to jack I. It is intended that each jack I may use a separate actuator as illustrated for one of the jacks or a common valve controlled supply may be used if more than one jack J is to be used. Such jacks and hydraulic pressure supply means are conventional and readily available. Other jacks or other drive means for driving two members in opposing directions may, of course, be used.

An adjustable jack anchor indicated generally by reference number 21 is shown positioned on arm 13a of member 13. Adjustable jack anchor 21 (FIGURE includes a bearing plate 22 having a pair of legs 23 Welded thereto and properly spaced to straddle member 13 or member -12. Legs 23 each have a bore 24 for receiving a pin. Anchor 21 is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 mounted by a pin 17 on channel 13 with the pin 17 extending through bores 24 and a pair of the bores 18 of member 13. Except for the presence of Jack I, anchor 21 would be pivotal about pin 17. In order to insert the jack J in the position shown, member 21 is pivoted clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 2 until edge 25 of plate 22 rests upon the upper surface of leg 13a as a stop thereagainst. The jack is then inserted between anchors 19 and 21 and extended to abut surface 20 and plate 22.

In operation, with the jack I and anchor 21 first removed from their positions shown in FIGURE 2, assuming an identation to be pushed outward, the frame straightening operation may be effected by abutting the outer surface of arm 13b against the portion to be straightened and abutting the outer surface of the arm 13b against an opposing portion of the vehicle frame. The pin 17 securing members 11 and 13 against telescopic sliding movement is removed during this operation and the two members are telescopically adjusted until a position of alignment of bores 18 in both members is reached so that where arm 13b is closest to abutting the portion of the frame to be pushed outward.

Anchor 21 is then pinned by pin 17 to member 13 providing the proper span between surface 22 and surface 20 for the jack to be used in retracted position. The jack J, preferably a hydraulic jack is then inserted between the surfaces 20 and 22 and is actuated, e.g. by the hydraulic actuation mechanism TR shown in FIGURE 1, sliding member 13 telescopically with respect to member 11, no pin 17 being present holding these two members against telescopic movement. Upon extension of jack J the length of its piston travel, or during such extension, as a pair of bores 18 of members '11 and 13 come into registry at or near the end of such extension, a pin 17 is slipped therethrough to stop the telescopic action. Jack I is then retracted, pin 17 holding the partially straightened frame against return. Adjustable anchor 21 is then removed and repositioned closer to anchor 19 providing the proper span between surfaces 20 and 22 again for re-insertion of jack I in retracted position. The jack is re-extended and the operation repeated as often as necessary to effect the desired amount of straightening. Although a straightening operation has been described with respect to pushing a frame portion outward with leg 13b, it will be apparent that using the anchor 19 at the other end of beam 11 and placing the adjustable anchor 21 on leg 12a of channel member 12, the same operation can be effected by pushing with channel arm 12b, arm 13b being grounded against an opposing portion of the vehicle frame. The force of the jack is exerted as a pushing force on the frame with no material forces being exerted in a direction tending to lift the vehicle frame from the floor or other supporting surface. Where it is undesirable or inconvenient to abut arm 13b or 12b against a portion of the frame, draft chains, such as shown at 26 in FIGURE 2, can be secured thereto by hooking over an edge of the open end of arm .13b or arm 12b or by wrapping around the beam at any level, using pins 17 to help hold the chain as desired.

It will further be noted that a number of pins 17 are present along the length of member 11 which would otherwise stop the desired telescopic action. Prior to telescopically extending either member 12 or member 13 these pins and the members mounted thereby must be removed.

Considering FIGURES 1 through 3, one of .the members mounted by a pin 17 to member 11 is a cross-beam 29. Three of these are shown on the illustrated device. Each cross-beam 29 is of construction similar to that of main beam 11 and each crossbeam 29 has an L-shaped channel member 30, of construction similar to that of members 12 and 13, telescopically received in one end.

thereof, a total of three L-shaped channel members 30 in the illustrated form. The members 30 can be telescopically received by cross-beams 29 from either end thereof as desired. The L-shaped channel members 30 have generally horizontal leg portions 30a telescopically received in the cross-beams 29 and also'have upstanding arm portions 30b.

' Welded to the bottom of each cross-beam, 29 is a pair of legs 31 disposed to straddle main beam 11. Each leg 31 has a bore registerable with the bores 18 of beam 11 so that the cross-beams may be held in position on beam 11 by pins 17 as shown. Further each cross-beam 29 has an anchor member. 19 secured thereto presenting a surface 20 faced endward. The cross-beam 29 and members 30 include spaced pairs of bores 18 in the same manner as beam 11 and members 12 and 13. It will be apparent that the same jack I or another jack I may beutilized to telescopically extend a member 30 from a cross-beam- 29, e.g. by positioning the jack as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 and using the adjustable anchor 21 secured by a pin 17 to leg 30a. It should be understood that a plurality of such jacks and adjustable anchors may be provided and used as desired.

The form of device including the cross-beam assemblies, i.e. including cross-beams 29 and members 30 telescopically slidable therein, is more versatile in its use.

The upstanding arms 30b, 12b and/or 13b may be used to engage and ground against various portions of the body frame, particularly in the unitized body structure, lessening the reaction force at any one point on the frame. Also, a jacking force may be applied in a plurality of places as needed for the straightening operation.

Where it is not desired to ground a substantial amount of pushing force against the body or frame of the vehicle, either leg or both arms 12b and 13b may be used for anchoring against the body While one or more of the pusher channels 30 is extended in the same lateral direction with respect to main beam 11. Such operation results in absorption of much of the pushing force by beam 11 rather than by the body or frame of the vehicle, thereby lessening the chances of bending one portion of the body or frame while straightening another. Similarly, where a longitudinal push is needed by arm 12b or 13b, arm 3011 may be grounded on the vehicle body or frame so that cross-beams 29 absorb a major amount of the reaction force in the direction opposite-that of the desired straightening operation.

Turning now to FIGURES l, 2 and 4, a carriage assembly, shown generally by reference number 34 is provided for carrying the device with beam 11 close to the supporting surface therebelow. The carriage system includes a cross plate 35 having a pair of swivel casters 36 secured to the bottom surface thereof supporting plate 35. The casters, including wheels 37, are of conventional design,

and may be readily purchased. Depending from plate 35 for straddling main frame 11 are a pair of legs 38. Legs 38 include bores for receiving a pin 17 in the same manner as the legs 31 of the cross-beam members. Legs 38 thereby support main beam 11 through a removable pin 17 and by means of the casters 36. It is apparent that any of the one of bores 18 of main beam 11 may be used for mounting the wheel at the desired position along beam 11. It should be pointed out that each time one bore 18 of member 11 is registering with a bore of member 12 or 13, all bores are in registry between members 11 and 12 or 13. However, where it is desired to telescopically extend one of members 12, or 13, the carriage assembly 34 should be mounted at a position where the mounting pin 17 will not stop desired telescopic sliding.

Preferably, the carriage system is mounted to the left or right of the center of gravity of the assembly as viewed in FIGURES l or 2, i.e. the center of gravity along the length of member 11 but suiliciently close to the center of gravity to permit tipping of the device lengthwise on wheels 37 by the user. Such positioning of the carriage assembly provides advantageous ease of movement of the straightening device over a level surface. For example, where it is desired to move the device lengthwise, the device may be gripped by any of the upstanding arms, e.g. 12b or 13b and pushed or pulled along. When it is desired to move the device laterally of channel 11 for positioning purposes, the arm 12b or 13b on the same end from the center of gravity toward which the carriage 34 is slightly off-center may conveniently be depressed to lift the other end of the device from the surface; the armis then moved in the opposite direction from the desired direction of travel, pivoting the other end of the device in the desired direction of travel; the arm is released to drop the other end on the surface over which the device is to be moved; and then the arm 12b or 13b is moved in the desired direction of travel with the other end resting on the surface so that the device is thereby moved laterally on swivel casters 36 while generally pivoting about the end resting on the surface. The motion for such movement of the device can readily be learned for relatively quick lateral movement of the device, with little practice. It will be apparent that the device can also be moved laterally from the other end thereof, i.e. from the end resting on the surface, by lifting to balance on carriage 34, pivoting, lifting higher to engage the opposite end with the surface, and pivoting in the opposite direction.

Returning to FIGURE 2, there is shown in phantom a short extension beam 40 of slightly smaller size and cross section than channel 12 or 13, which beam 40 may be slid telescopically into the end of any of the upstanding arms 12b, 13b or 3012 to extend the arm upward where desired or needed. The bores 18 of extension 40 are capable of receiving pins 17 for securing against telescopic sliding once the member 40 is in the desired position for extending the length of the leg. Advantages in the use of such extensions will be evident to those in the art. Upright members 41 (FIGURE 6) may also be secured to main beam 11 to provide additional frame engaging members where needed for a straightening operation. Members 41 are releasably securable to beam 11 by a pin 17 passing through a pair of bores 18 in beam 11 and a pair of aligned bores in legs 42 extending downward from a member 41. Edges 43 at the bottom of member 41 abut the upper surface of beam 11, preventing undue pivoting of member 41 about pin 17 under applied force. Members 41 may also be used on cross-beams 29, if desired.

Although the device is illustrated with a plurality of cross-beams, it will be noted that the cross-beams and all other members secured by pins 17 are readily removable by Withdrawing the pin 17 anchoring the cross-beams to beam 11. The cross-beams may be positioned selectively as desired or needed at spaced intervals along beam 11 or may be omitted if not needed for a particular operaand separating the associated structures.

tion. The entire device can be disassembled for storage or partially disassembled for removal of unwanted or undesired structures by removing the appropriate pins 17 Additionally, upon anchoring one or more portions of the device to a vehicle, an upstanding arm such as 13b can be used to anchor a jack which may be used to directly push against an outwardly bent section of the vehicle for straightening purposes, a procedure which would be recognized by those in the art.

It will be apparent from the above descriptions and from the drawings that the present invention provides a new and useful straightening device, some advantages of which have been described hereinabove. Other advantages of the device of the present invention, especially in its versatility of use in particular straightening operations, will be recognized by or be apparent to those in the art.

I claim:

1. A frame straightening device comprising drive means, an elongate structure including two members mova'ble relative to each other, anchor means on a first of said two members including a bearing surface for said drive means, adjustable anchor plate means defining a second bearing surface for said drive means, means releasably mounting said adjustable anchor plate means on the second of said two members, an expansion link between said two members for permitting movement of said two bearing surfaces to any of a plurality of expansion span distances between said bearing surfaces, means independent of said drive means for retaining the span at a selected one of the plurality of span distances, said drive means being positionable for driving said two bearing surfaces away from each other, and means for positioning said drive means alternatively for exerting side forces from said structure.

2. A portable frame straightening device comprising a carriage, an elongate beam structure mounted on said carriage and including two members movable with respect to each other, drive means for driving said members relative to each other, first mounting means removably mounting said drive means in driving position, and second mounting means for mounting said drive means alternatively for exerting forces laterally from said elongate beam structure.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said second mounting means includes a plurality of cross beam means, means for removably securing each of said cross beam means on said beam structure for grounding thereagainst in selected ones of a multiplicity of different locations along said elongate beam, said cross :beam means including two members movable with respect to each other and means for receiving said drive means for driving said members relative to each other.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first and second mounting means includes a stationary anchor plate on one member of the main beam structure, a 'stationary' anchor plate means on one member of the beam means, and an adjustable anchor plate adapted to be selectively secured to the other member of each beam structure facing one of said stationary anchor plates, said drive means being selectively positionable between the adjustable anchor plate and the facing stationary anchor plate.

5.The device of claim 3 wherein one member of each cross beam structure includes an upstanding arm adapted to be driven laterally from said elongate beam structure by said drive means.

6. A frame straightening device comprising an elongate main beam structure adapted to engage an automobile frame at two diiferent locations, cross beam means secured to said main beam structure and including two members movable with respect to each other, one of said two members of said cross beam means being adapted to engage the automobile frame in an additional location, and drive means selectively removably positionable between the two members 'of said cross beam means for exerting lateral forces on the frame-engageable cross beam member of said cross beam means, lateral with respect to said main beam structure, whereby said main beam structure grounds and substantially absorbs the lateral reactive forces.

7. In a device for straightening automobile frames or the like including an elongate beam structure for engaging at least two locations on an automobile frame, in combination therewith the improvement which comprises a slideable telescopic expansion joint in said beam structure between said two locations, defining two telescoped members in said beam structure, means for telescopically moving said two members relative to each other, a carriage having a pair of Wheels pivotally mounted thereon for supporting said carriage, and means for releasably mounting said carriage at a plurality of positions along said beam structure whereby said carriage may be mounted slightly off-center of said beam structure regardless of the telescopic disposition of said two telescoped members.

8. A portable frame straightening device comprising a carriage, an elongate main channel member mounted on said carriage, a pair of L shaped channel members each telescoped by one leg in opposing ends of said main beam, spaced bore means in said main beam and each L shaped member for retaining said main beam and L shaped members at a plurality of diflerent telescopic dispositions, jack anchor means adjacent each end of said main beam, an adjustable jack anchor positionable on said telescoped leg of either of said L shaped channel members, a cross channel beam, means for selectively mounting said cross beam at any of a plurality of dispositions along said main beam and at right angles to said main beam, a cross channel member telescoped at one end in an end of said cross beam, pin andspaced bore means in said cross channel member and in said cross beam for retaining said cross channel member and said cross beam at a plurality of different telescopic dispositions, jack anchor means near each end of said cross beam, an adjustable jack anchor mountable on said cross channel member and a jack positionable across the span between the jack anchor on an end of said main or cross beam and the adjustable jack anchor, with said adjustable jack anchor in position on the channel member telescoped from said end of said main or cross beam.

9. A device for straightening automobile bodies and the like which comprises an elongate frame member,-

a plurality of pusher members each having an engaging element for engaging the body to be straightened, means mounting two of said pusher members for movement away from each other in opposite directions on said frame for anchoring the device to the body to be straightened, means mounting another of said pusher members for movement transverse to the direction of movement of said first two pusher members, and drive means for driving said pusher members in their respective directions of movement.

10. A device for straightening automobile bodies or the like comprising an elongate beam structure, means mounted on said beam structure and shiftable between positions along the beam structure for applying expansive force from at least two selected spaced positions along said structure to at least two spaced locations on the automobile body, carriage means, and means for releasably mounting said carriage means at a plurality of positions along said beam structure whereby said carriage means may be mounted slightly olf balancing center of said beam structure regardless of the disposition of said force applying means along said beam structure.

11. A device for straightening'automobile bodies and the like comprising an elongate beam structure including two members movable with respect to each other, drive means for driving said members relative to each other,

means for locking said members in each of a plurality of positions of movement, each of said movable members including an upright extension, a pair of pusher members, each of said pusher members being telescopically receivable on one of said upright members and being slidable relative thereto for extending and retracting the upstanding length of the upright membenand means for releasably locking each of said pusher members in a plurl ality of spaced extended positions relative to its upright member.

12. A device for straightening automobile bodies and the like comprising an elongate channel member having open opposite ends, a pair of separate beams each having an end telescopically received in an opposite end of the channel member, a pushed element on each of said beams for engaging the body to be straightened, releasable means for locking each beam against movement relative to the channel, a drive anchor member secure-d at each end of said channel member, and drive means for anchoring against each anchor member, and driving the respective beam telescopically relative to the channel to a plurality of linearly spaced positions of the pusher element beyond the channel end, said releasable locking means including means for releasably locking said beam in each of said linearly spaced positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. H. JUST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FRAME STRAIGHTENING DEVICE COMPRISING DRIVE MEANS, AN ELONGATE STRUCTURE INCLUDING TWO MEMBERS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, ANCHOR MEANS ON A FIRST OF SAID TWO MEMBERS INCLUDING A BEARING SURFACE FOR SAID DRIVE MEANS, ADJUSTABLE ANCHOR PLATE MEANS DEFINING A SECOND BEARING SURFACE FOR SAID DRIVE MEANS, MEANS RELEASABLY MOUNTING SAID ADJUSTABLE ANCHOR PLATE MEANS ON THE SECOND OF SAID TWO MEMBERS, AN EXPANSION LINK BETWEEN SAID TWO MEMBERS FOR PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID TWO BEARING SURFACES TO ANY OF A PLURALITY OF EXPANSION SPAN DISTANCES BETWEEN SAID BEARING SURFACES, MEANS INDEPENDENT OF SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR RETAINING THE SPAN AT A SELECTED ONE OF THE PLURALITY OF SPAN DISTANCES, SAID DRIVE MEANS BEING POSITIONABLE FOR DRIVING SAID TWO BEARING SURFACES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AND MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID DRIVE MEANS ALTERNATIVELY FOR EXERTING SIDE FORCES FROM SAID STRUCTURE. 